Aged Jews Made Homeless by War Admitted into J.D.C. Institutions in Israel

Aged men and women in Israel who were made homeless by the war were immediately taken into old age homes operated by the Joint Distribution Committee, Theodore D. Feder. deputy director-general, who has just returned from the Jewish state, reported today.

Mr. Feder, who was formerly a JDC director for Israel, told the board of directors of the JDC at its semi-annual meeting here that “a number of aged who were formerly self-sufficient — how many we do not yet know — will now need our help because of the war. In some cases, the war has claimed sons or daughters who supported and looked after them 1, in others, homes or flats have been destroyed, particularly in the Jerusalem area.

“Without delaying, without waiting for any formalities, we have already begun admitting such aged to our Malben old age homes,” he reported. Malben is a special welfare program established in Israel by JDC to care for aged, ill and handicapped newcomers. Mr. Feder told the assembled Jewish leaders that during the five days of the war in Israel there was not a single death or illness reported among the 3,300 aged in the 15 JDC-supported old age homes in Israel. Normally during such a period there are from six to eight deaths and at least 300 requiring medical attention.

“During those anxious days not only did death take a holiday but the effect on the aged was extraordinary,” Mr. Feder said. “If they could have they would have enlisted in the army. There was a great deal of discontent because most of them were turned down when they volunteered to donate blood. In every home the impoverished old people contributed what little pocket money they had left. There was complete discipline. They taped the windows and cleaned the shelters. In one home they offered their beds and blankets for evacuees and volunteered to sleep on the floor.”

Louis Broido, JDC chairman, who presided, called for all-out support of the Israel Emergency Fund of the United Jewish Appeal. He urged upon the board members “that we pledge ourselves to do and to give our utmost for the rehabilitation of the reedy, the handicapped and the helpless in Israel.”

Charles H, Jordan, JDC executive vice-chairman, told the assembled Jewish leaders that only “prompt and vigorous action” by the Moroccan and Tunisian authorities prevented wide-scale attacks on Jewish minorities in those countries. Both King Hassan of Morocco and President Habib Borguiba of Tunisia, though expressing hostility to Israel, nevertheless extended the protection of their police and military forces to the Jewish populations in their countries when mob violence seemed about to break out, he declared.

Mr. Jordan lauded the Italian and French Governments which “in accordance with their traditional hospitality have offered a haven to Jewish refugees who are arriving in a steady stream from North African countries.” He said that representatives of the JDC and local Jewish welfare organizations were meeting the ships and planes carrying Jewish refugees and were supplying emergency relief, shelter and other assistance.